Sometimes it’s the little touches that take your outfit from average to enviable. Celebrities have stylists to calculate all the complicated nuances of putting together a look, but we aren’t all so fortunate. Luckily, tFS has put together some celeb-inspired styling tips and tricks to help give your look that extra oomph! This week, Selita Ebanks, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, andother celebs show you how to mix in polka dots this summer—without going dotty.

Tip #1: Let Selita Ebanks help you get over your fear of pattern-mixing

At first glance, Selita Ebanks’ ensemble at The Hangover Part II premiere might seem pretty neutral, but take a closer look and you’ll see that she’s done the unthinkable by creating an inspired mix which incorporates polka dots, lace, and floral—and doesn’t end up looking like pattern vomit. Her Tucker knee-length full polka dot skirt, silk floral bed jacket by Zara, and sheer white lace Foley top blend effortlessly because they work within the same pastel palette, proving that polka dots don’t have to be loud.

Tip #2: Pick a polka dot playsuit like Sophie Ellis-Bextor

British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to make quirky vintage pieces look current, like the fluttery red polka dot romper she wore to perform at Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire, UK, which perfectly complemented her fair skin and auburn locks. Floral rompers are trendy right now, but why not mix it up with dots? The retro pattern makes any wearer seem instantly young and playful. Ellis-Bextor added a glam touch with gold platforms, but you could keep the look casual with cork wedges.

What do these two celebs have in common besides being attached to their phones? They both soaked up the sun in a polka dot bikini, swimwear so iconic they wrote a song about it. That might explain why ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was spotted wearing one from her bikini line for Next while vacationing on a yacht in the French Riviera. Katy Perry may have been making her poolside debut as a redhead here, but we had our eyes on her cute pink and black polka dot bikini with sweet bow details.

Ellen Freeman has been contributing to the Fashion Spot since 2010. Since graduating with a degree in comparative literature from Haverford College, her celebrity fashion, wellness, arts and travel writing has appeared in publications including the Matador Network and Philadelphia Weekly. Also a certified yoga instructor, Ellen currently lives in the Japanese countryside—but misses thrift store spelunking in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.